Wire takeup block



1952 M. A. NYE 3,049,315

WIRE TAKEUP BLOCK Filed Nov. 4, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N IO FROM AIR BLOWER INVEN TOR. MAURICE A. NYE

1 Ema/1,7120% $9 ATTORNEYS 1962 M. A. NYE 3,049,315

WIRE TAKEUP BLOCK Filed Nov. 4, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR; MAURICE A. NYE

GEJZJI WZM &

ATTORNEYS United taes The present invention relates generally as indicated to a Wire takeup block and, more particularly, to a fluid cooled, stationary takeup block.

When wire is drawn or otherwise worked, it becomes quite hot, for example 400-600 F., and thus it is customary practice to provide a hollow internally cooled takeup block after each draw. In the case of a rotary, internally cooled takeup block, there must be provided a suitable pressure source of the coolant to circulate the same through the block thereby necessitating a complicated plumbing installation and fluid seal to provide for circulation and sealing of the coolant within the takeup block. The sealing problem is all the more acute in the case of a takeup block that is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis. In the case of a stationary horizontal takeup block there is a rather difficult plumbing problem with reference to the connection of the liquid supply source thereto since both ends must be unobstructed for take-off of the wire convolutions wrapped therearound from one end and for rotation of the flyer about the other end.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a wire takeup block andfluid cooling system therefor which is characterized in that it is an integral part of the takeup block so as not to require any external plumbing connections and leaving the take-01f end of the block unobstructed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a takeup block having a fluid cooling system which is characterized in that a coolant circulating pump and radiator is mounted on the block, the pump being driven by the flyer drive shaft and effective to circulate the coolant through the block and radiator.

It is another object of this invention to provide a Wire takeup block and fluid cooling system therefor in which the block is in series with the coolant circuit.

It is another object of this invention to provide a wire takeup block and fluid cooling system therefore in which, not only liquid coolant is employed but, in addition, air currents sweep over the outside of the block and Wire Wrapped therearound and through the radiator of the liquid cooling system to effectively extract heat from the block, the wire, and the liquid coolant circulated through the interior of the block.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related 7 ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partly in section, showing a stationary horizontal, internally cooled takeup block according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section view showing the takeup block and cooling system thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is provided a base structure 1 containing the drive mechanism for flyer driven shaft 2 including the vertical shaft atent 3 journalled in bearings 4 and coupled at its lower end to a suitable drive motor, not shown. The upper end of shaft 3 has secured thereto a bevel pinion 5 meshing with the bevel gear 6 secured on the flyer drive shaft 2. In turn, the flyer drive shaft 2 is supported in the bearings 7, S of the base structure 1 for rotation about a horizontal axis.

At the top of the base structure 1 there is provided suitable piping 9 equipped with lubricant nozzles 10 for supplying lubricant to the bearings 7, 8 and gears 6, 5.

At the rear of the base 1 there is provided a bracket 11 on which the sheaves 12 and 14 are mounted over which the wire W passes into the bore 15 of the flyer drive shaft 2.

The flyer assembly 16 is arranged to be driven by the flyer drive shaft 2 and thus comprises a hub portion 17 which is keyed onto the flyer drive shaft 2 and the arm portion 18 of the flyer assembly 16 carries a sheave 19 over which the wire W passes for wrapping around the takeup block 211' responsive to rotation of the flyer assembly 16 about the horizontal central axis of the block 20. The hub portion 17 of the flyer assembly 16 is also provided with a sheave 21 over which the wire W passes from the bore 15 of the drive shaft 2 to the end of the flyer arm 18.

The takeup block aforesaid, is hollow and is mounted on the end of the flyer drive shaft 2 through antifriction bearings 23 and 24, whereby the flyer drive shaft 2 may rotate with respect to the takeup block 20. In order to prevent rotation of the takeup block 20 it has secured thereto a gear 25 with which the pinion 26 on the shaft 27 carried by the hub 17 of the flyer meshes. At the other end of the shaft 27 is another pinion 28 which meshes witha gear 29 fixed on the base 1. Accordingly, as the flyer 16 rotates, the shaft 27 will be rotated about its own axis because of the engagement of the pinion 28 with the gear 29 fixed to the base 1. Such rotation of the shaft 27 and consequent rotation of the pinion 26 in mesh with the gear 25 of the takeup block 20 holds the gear 25 and takeup block 20 stationary.

The takeup block 20 has a slightly tapered exterior surface as shown and a beveled shoulder or apron 30, around which the wire W is wrapped as the flyer 16 rotates about the block 20. Thus, the convolutions of the I wire W wrapped around the block 20 will be continuously axially advanced toward the end of the block, that is, toward the right as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the convolutions will move along the horn 31 and thereby be turned to descend by gravity to form a horizontal coil below the lower end of the horn. The horn 31 may comprise curved rods or tubes 32 which, at their upper ends, are secured to the end of the takeup block 20 and which have vertical lower ends secured together as by perforate plate 34 and adapted to be disposed over a drum or the like (not shown) in which the coil of wire is accumulated.

Interiorly, the takeup block 21 is formed with a helical passageway 35 to one end of which passageway is connected :a coolant supply pipe 36 and to the other end of which passageway is connected the inlet end 37 of a radiator 38. The other end 39 of the radiator 38 leads to a fluid reservoir or tank 40 from which fluid cooled by the radiator 38 flows into the intake port 41 of a rotary pump 42. The supply pipe 36 aforesaid is connected to the discharge port '43 of said pump 42. The radiator 38 aforesaid, may comprise, for example, a finned tube coiled around inside the sheet metal housing 44 in the horn 3-1, and if added cooling capacity is required, said tube 45 may also be coiled inside the outer coils instead of running from the bottom coil to the reservoir 40 as shown.

The rotary pump 42 has its housing fixedly secured as spacers shown to the end of the takeup block and the rotary displacement element therein is driven by the flyer drive shaft 2. Accordingly, when the takeup block 20 is in operation the cooled liquid in the reservoir is drawn into the pump 42 and is delivered through the supply pipe 36 into one end of the helical passage 35 in the takeup block 20. As the coolant flows through the helical passage 35 of the block 20 it extracts heat from the latter to maintain the same at a desired temperature, the cooled block 20, in turn, extracting heat from the wire W wrapped in contact therearound. The heated coolant is then circulated through the radiator 38 and cooled thereby. The radiator 38, as aforesaid, may comprise finned tubing which, as known, provides a very large surface area for radiating the heat of the coolant circulated therethrough.

In addition to the use of a liquid coolant for the takeup block 20, and also to improve the efiiciency of the radiator 38, the base structure 1 is formed with an opening 46 which is adapted to be communicated with a suitable blower or fan, not shown, for providing a continuous current of air through the housing 47 around the flyer 16 and takeup block 20, thereby extracting heat therefrom. The :air is discharged from the housing 47 through (a) the relatively narrow annular gap 48, thus sweeping over the wire W coiled around the takeup block 20; and (b) the gap 49 into the takeup block 26 and thence through the openings 59 into and through the radiator housing 44, thus extracting heat from the takeup block 20 and from the radiator tube 45.

It is to be understood that wire drawing dies may be disposed in advance of the takeup block assembly herein, or, if desired, a die may be mounted on the flyer assembly 16, for instance, between the takeup block 20 and the sheave 19, or between the sheaves 19 and 21.

Although water may be employed as the coolant in the present fluid cooling system, it is preferred to use other liquids better suited for the elevated temperatures to which the block 20 may be heated by the hot wire W wrapped therearound. Such other coolants, if in the nature of oils, may also constitute lubricants for the pump 42.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be emplayed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. Wire handling apparatus comprising a hollow stationary takeup block; a rotatable flyer and drive means therefor operative to rotate said flyer about said block to wrap wire around one end of said block for removal in coil form from the other end of said block, said drive means comprising a shaft to which said flyer is secured adjacent to such one end of said block and which extends through said block; and a fluid circulating and cooling system mounted on said block including a fluid circulatiug pump driven by said shaft, said system being operative to circulate fluid coolant through said block thereby to extract heat therefrom. and from the wire wrapped therearound and to cool the thus heated fluid for recirculation through said block.

2. Wire handling apparatus comprising a hollow stationary takeup block; a rotatable flyer and drive means therefor operative to rotate said flyer about said block to wrap wire around one end of said block for removal in coil from the other end of said block; and a fluid circulating and cooling system mounted on said block. said system comprising a fluid circulating pump driven by said drive means and a radiator, said pump being operative to circulate fluid coolant through said block thereby to extract heat therefrom and from the wire wrapped therearound and to further circulate such fluid coolant through said radiator to cool the thus heated fluid for recirculation through said block.

3. Wire handling apparatus comprising a hollow stationary takeup block; a rotatable flyer and drive means therefor operative to rotate said flyer about said block to wrap wire around one end of said block for removal in coil form from the other end of said block; and a fluid circulating and cooling system mounted on said block, said system comprising a fluid circulating pump, a radiator, and means to induce air currents over said block and radiator, said system being operative to circulate fluid coolant through said block thereby to extract heat therefrom and from the wire wrapped therearound and to cool the thus heated fluid for recirculation through said block.

4. Wire handling apparatus comprising a hollow stationary takeup block; a rotatable flyer and drive means therefor operative to rotate said flyer about said block to Wrap wire around one end of said block for removal in coil form from the other end of said block; a helical passage in the inside of said block wall that is externally contacted by the wire; and a fluid circulating and cooling system mounted on said block and operative to circulate fluid coolant through said helical passage in said block thereby to extract heat therefrom and from the wire wrapped therearound and to cool the thus heated fluid for recirculation through said block.

5. The wire handling apparatus of claim 4 wherein said system comprises a fluid circulating pump driven by said drive means, said pump having a discharge port in fluid communication with one end of such helical passage; and a radiator which at its respective ends is in fluid communication with the other end of such helical passage and with the intake port of said pump.

6. The wire handling apparatus of claim 5 wherein means are provided to induce air currents over said block and radiator.

7. Wire handling apparatus comprising a base; a horizontal, hollow, stationary takeup block; a rotatable flyer and drive shaft therefore mounted on said base operative to rotate said flyer about a horizontal axis about said block to wrap wire around one end of said block for removal in coil form from the other end of said block; said drive shaft extending through said block and being rotatable therein; a horn secured to such other end of said block to curve downwardly to cause descent of the wire to form a horizontal coil beneath said horn; epicyclic gearing on said base, said flyer, and said block operative to lock said block and horn against rotation; and a fluid circulating and cooling system mounted on said block and disposed within said horn including a fluid circulating pump driven by said drive shaft, and a radiator through which, and said block, fluid coolant is continuously circulated by said pump.

8. The wire handling apparatus of claim 7 wherein a housing is provided around said flyer and said block; and wherein an air supply source leads into said housing for flow of air over said flyer and block.

9. The wire handling apparatus of claim 7 wherein a housing is provided around said flyer and said block; and wherein an air supply source leads into said housing for flow of air over said flyer and block; said housing and block forming an air discharge opening therebetwcen for air flow over said block and over the wire wrapped therearound.

10. The wire handling apparatus of claim 7 wherein said block is formed with a helical passage in the inside of the wall that is externally contacted by the wire through which such fluid coolant is circulated to extract heat from said block and from the wire wrapped therearound.

11. The wire handling apparatus of claim 10 wherein said pump has a discharge port in fluid communication with one end of such helical passage; and wherein said radiator has its respective ends in fluid communication o 6 with the other end of such helical passage and with the for flow of air over said flyer and block; said flyer and intake port of said pump. block defining an air discharge opening for air flow through 12. The wire handling apparatus of claim 11 wherein said block and through said horn and over said radiator. a housing is provided around said fiyer and said block; and

wherein an air supply source leads into said housing for 5 References Cited in the file of this P flow of air over said fiyer and block. UNITED STATES PATENTS 13. The wire handling apparatus of claim 11 wherein I a housing is provided around said flyer and said block; gsfi 2 and wherein an air supply source leads into said housing 

